Key-holder.



No. 825,184. PATENTED JULY 3, 1906.

B. J. BRANDT.

KEY HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED APB..8.1904.

returns snares PATENT @FJFTCE.

EDWARD J. BRANDT, F WVATERTOWN, WISQONSIN. ASSIGNOF; TC

BRANDT CASHIER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A (JQRFQ- RATIGN OFILLINOIS.

, sawhorse...

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3, 190a To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. BRANDT, a citizen of the United States,residing at W atertown, in the county of Jefferson and State of\Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements .in Key-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to key-holders, and comprises a novel form andconstruction of key-holder wherein one of the arts or ele ments isadapted to serve as an i entification tag.

The object of the invention is to provide a sim le, secure, andeasily-manipulated keyhol er which may also combine therewith means foridentifying the owner of the keys.

To this end the invention consists in a key-.

holder chiefly characterized by the combination ot a notched plate and aspring-tongue secured theretoand covering the notch, said plate in thepreferred embodiment of the invention also constituting anidentificationhave illustrated my invention in "two forms, in which itmay be embodied in thesecompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is aplanview of the preferred form of the invention. Fig. 2 is an end View ofthe combined lockand identification-tag. Fig. 3 is a view similar to.Fig. .1 of a modifies: tion wherein the lock itself in slightly-modified form also constitutes the holder for the keys, and Fig. 4 is across-sectional view on the line 4 4: of Fig. 3 viewed in the directionof the arrow- Referring to the drawings, and first briefly describingthe preferred form of the invention,

(illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2,) 5designates atag preferably cut orstamped from solid sheet metal and of the substantially oval form shown.One end of this tag is cut out or notched, as shown at 6, and the saidnotched end of the tag is countersunk on one face thereof on either endof the notch, as shown at 7, Fig. 2, the countersink extending aroundand along substantially one-half of one side of the "tag, as indicatedat 8. In the countersink is fitted a spring-tongue 9, shaped and bent tojust fill the countersink and conform to the outline form of the tag andlying flush with the surface of the latter. The inner end'of the tongueis securely riveted to the tag, as

shown at 10, and its free end overlies and closes the notch 6. 11designates an ordinary chain upon which the keys 12 may be strung, thetwo ends of said chain being provided with rings 13, which may beslipped over the free bent end of the tongue 9 by simply springing thelatter upwardly sufficiently to slip the rings under and over the freeend of the tongue. As soon as the rings have passed down over thetongue, so as to lie Within the notch 6, the free end of the tongue 1under the elasticity of the latter snaps back into the countersink, thuslocking the twoends of the chain together. Either face of the tagpresents a plain surface on which may be engraved or otherwise applied aname or registration number or other means of identification, asindicated. The device above described is simple, economical to make, andvery easy of manipulation, ,a slight upward or outward springing of thetongue by the thumb or finger of the o erator suflicing for theapplication of t e chain 11 thereto, anda slight outward pull of thechain sufficing to draw either or both of the rings 13 off the endof thetongue, the latter yielding sufliciently to permit withdrawal.

The lock having the spring-tongue hereinabove described may be so formedas to serve also as a direct ring or holderfor the 12? by theirapertured or annular heads in t e same manner thatthe rin s 13 of thechain 11 are 'remo'vably secured in ig. 1, the enlarged notch 6*providing s ace for the reception of one or more keys. his modified formof the invention, which dispenses-with an= intermediate key confiningand retaining member, such as the chain 11, ma as above stated, beconveniently employe where the keys are small. or comparatively limitedin number; but for general purposes I prefer to em the chain 11 or an euivalent member, w '0 may readil be made of any length suitable to. thenum er of keys comprised in any Pen 'keys, dispensing with the chain 11,especiall I where the bunch of keys is a small one. Suc

ticular hunch. In both forms the plain flat meniber 5 serves the usefuldouble function of a mechanical element ofthe lock or holder and also ofan identification-tag. Of course the particular form of the tag-plateand of itsplate having a minor portion of its periphery portion of theplate to form an inclosed space,

I the free end 0 cut away, of a spring-tongue fast with said plateletone end and overlying said cut-away said tongue overlapping the plate atone'end of said cut awayq portion, v substantiallyas described.

2. In a key-h lder, the combination with a plate havinga minor portionof itsv periphery cut away, of a spring-tongue fast with said plate atone end and overlying said cut-away portion of the plate to form aninclosed space, said tongue 'overlapping but disconnected semen fromsaid plate for some distance inwardly from both ends of said cut-awayportion of its periphery, substantially as described;

3. In a key-holder, the combination with a fiat plate having a notchformed in itsperiphery and countersunk marginally on both sides of saidnotch, of a spring-tongue fitted to the countersunk margin of said plateand secured to the latter at one end and having its free end overl w' 1g and closing said notch, substantially as' escribed.

4. In a key-holder, the. combination with a flat oval plate having. aperipheral notch formed in one end thereof and' countersunk marginallyacross the end of said notch and down one side of the plate, of aspring-tongue fitted to the countersunk margin, of said plate and lying flushwith the surface of the latter, 1

said tongue being secured to the pIate atone end and having its free endoverg and closing said notch, substantially as m escrihed. a Y EDWARD J.BAND'IL. Witnesses: I I

SAMUEL N. Pom), FnnnnnrcK 0.,Goonvvrn.

